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What the name means: The name cadmium derives from the word kadmeia (calamine). Since cadmium is found with zinc compounds, its name stems from calamine (zinc carbonate). The roots of the word calamine are from the name Kadmos, a Phoenician prince who founded the city of Thebes in Egypt.

Who identified cadmium? In the early 19^th century, pharmacies sold zinc oxide as a medicine. One pharmacy in Germany was suspected of selling zinc carbonate as zinc oxide. It was also suspected that the zinc carbonate contained arsenic. Friedrich Stromeyer, a Swedish professor, was employed by the German government as a pharmaceutical inspector. He received a sample of the suspect compound and analysed it. He identified a new element in the sample that he named cadmium.

About cadmium: Cadmium is quite rare in the Earth’s crust. It is mostly associated with ores containing zinc, copper or lead ores. Cadmium metal is bluish-white. It is soft and can be easily cut. It is used in certain batteries, in solder and in some alloys.